Chapter 111: Battle Memory Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

...

Rashomon riverbank.

The shabby gate hides the stench coming from the slum area behind the door.

Daki...who named this?

It's really ugly.

The hunched and skinny boy with dirt all over his body and strange black scars on his face was standing with his head down.

In front of him, is a sister who is completely opposite to him.

"...Ume ." Gyutaro was holding the sickle, he looked at Plum, slightly opened his mouth, just wanted to say something.

But he hesitated for a while.

Strange?

He blinked his eyes, scratched his messy hair in confusion.

I...

What was I doing just now?

"Brother?" Ume also looked at Gyutaro, who was dazed in place, with confusion.

After looking at her sister's somewhat old and broken kimono, Gyutaro suddenly seemed to remember something.

Oh, right.

——I'm going to collect debts today.

Although his body is weak, he is surprisingly good at fighting, relying on debt collection, the hard days are getting better day by day.

His gaze stopped on Ume, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but hook up.

And there is such a sister that makes me proud.

Thinking of this.

Gyutaro slightly tugged at the hem of his shabby clothes, squatted down, and let his gaze meet the girl in front of him.

He gently patted his sister's shoulder, dangling his eyes, as always:

"Ume, listen, today is your first time staying at home alone."

"If you encounter anything, you have to strike first before being taken away."

Although Gyutaro is young, his voice is still hoarse and terrifying, just like his appearance, he is called a monster by others.

He comforted the somewhat worried Ume in a low voice:

"It's okay, you can do it too."

Plum heard the words, the idea of continuing to ask just now disappeared, she nodded somewhat worriedly, her gaze stayed on her brother's tired face:

"Um."

"I will come back early." Seeing his sister growing up gradually, Gyutaro nodded slightly.

After tidying up Plum's clothes and touching her head, he stood up:

"I'm leaving."

Head towards the opposite side of the Rashomon riverbank.

Looking at Gyutaro's gradually receding back.

Ume, who had been frowning and pursing her lips, staring at Gyutaro's back, slowly raised both hands.

It seemed that she had never had the courage to speak out, her face was red with suffocation, and she took a deep breath and shouted at Gyutaro's back:

"Brother——!"

"Be careful on the road!"

Hearing the words.

Step.

"Um." Gyutaro, who was walking in front, stopped, his mouth raised, slightly sideways, and for the first time a smile called "happiness" appeared on his face:

"I'm leaving!"

Ume looked at her brother's smile, her heart was jumping, she raised her hand high, laughed brightly and lively, and waved her hand in the direction of Gyutaro.

The two young people bid farewell to each other.

At this moment.

Patter.

"...?"

The older Gyutaro looked surprised, his hands holding the flesh sickle, his tall but hunched body, his arms wrapped in red and black ribbons, he had become a demon and suddenly appeared.

And stood in the middle of the two who were gradually moving away.

His eyes engraved with [Upper Rank], he tilted his head in doubt and looked at his happy smile when he was young.

No.

This is not right——

His pupils reflected the gradually receding figure of his younger self, trembling slightly.

What are you so proud of, you!

Just a slight taste of happiness, and you're getting carried away!

Don't go!

Come back to me!

Gyutaro stared hard at his retreating self, wanting to move his feet, but found himself unable to move at all.

He opened his mouth, trying to shout, but could only choke, making a strange sound in his throat.

His gaze gradually became anxious.

It was this time!

After he left, his sister believed his words, resisted, and used a hairpin to blind a samurai's eyes.

As a result, that damned guy set her on fire.

When he came back, he only saw Ume, who was lying in a pit and burned so badly that she couldn't be recognized as a human.

My sister.

To save her at that time, there was no other way but to become a demon.

In fact, his greatest wish was just to live with his sister.

Watching the figure of his younger self disappear from his field of vision, Gyutaro turned his head.

He looked at his sister, who was full of anticipation and unwilling to leave the doorway for a long time.

"Um!" Ume clenched her small fists, her little face flushed with excitement, she nodded vigorously, looking very cute, she muttered to herself:

"Before my brother comes back, I'll get everything ready!"

Saying this, Ume's expression became somewhat indignant, she hummed and turned her head, walking towards "home":

"Stupid brother, always saying I'm stupid, he even forgot that today is his birthday."

Upon hearing this.

——Birthday?

Gyutaro was slightly stunned, he didn't remember teaching his sister this concept.

That was a useless luxury for the rich, he hated that feeling.

Recalling the memory, Ume suddenly excitedly asked him when he was born one day, he choked in place and casually said a day.

Did she learn it from someone who passed by?

His body trembled more and more violently.

Ume...

My sister, she's clumsy, but very upright, serious about her work, but she has a hard time taking care of herself.

Stupid sister.

Such a person, after all, he can't let her live alone...

She's different from me.

If she was born somewhere else, not my sister...

If she lives happily...

Gyutaro stared blankly at the young Ume.

She could definitely save more people...

——Just like me.

The memory gradually faded, and everything around him slowly emitted a soft white light.

Gyutaro suddenly shuddered.

Yes.

In fact, he is very happy.

The memories of the summer blue sky, accompanied by the falling green leaves carried by the breeze, brushed Gyutaro's dazed face.

...

Reality.

Dark clouds were rolling in the dark sky.

"Cough ah!"

Gyutaro's eyes rolled white, he trembled and turned his gaze back, his gaze quickly moved, and finally stared at the Bright Red Sword that was gradually approaching his neck.

He glanced sideways, looking at Ume's head held in Uzui Tengen's hand.

At this moment, she was crying loudly, shouting something towards here.

[Ume]

Gyutaro stared.

[Your life.]

[Is more important!]

Hiss!

The sword of the Bright Red Sword touched his neck, and the position of the epidermis immediately made a sizzling sound.

—— than mine!

"Roar——!!" Gyutaro didn't struggle, 

He just suddenly raised his head, and the grim veins suddenly spread all over his body!

His messy dark green hair was dancing, he opened his amber eyes wide, and roared with all his strength.

The already skinny body shriveled at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the flesh scythe in his hand also turned into ashes in an instant.

The vitality of [Upper Rank Three] was gone in an instant!

The next moment.

Tanjuro swung his arm hard.

Whoosh!

The bright red Bright Red Sword cleanly swept across Gyutaro's neck.

His head flew high, but there was no regret or surprise on his roaring face.

Gyutaro just slightly opened his mouth.

Then.

"Ume!!"

Gyutaro twisted his head in mid-air, choked his throat, and shouted at his sister:

"Run——!!"

Upon hearing this.

Tanjuro, who had just cut off his head, paused, he twisted his body violently, and the strong force made him forcibly turn his body to look behind during the sprint.

"Eh?" Ume, who was crying, opened her eyes in confusion, her gaze was on the flying, constantly dissipating Gyutaro's head.

She didn't notice herself at all.

Below the broken neck.

——That body that has already regrown.

"What?!" Uzui Tengen looked at his side in horror, he subconsciously clenched the Nichirin Sword in his hand, and went straight to Daki's neck!

Swish!

Bang!

But the attacking sword was abruptly blocked by the cloth strip raised on Daki's body!

"...My body...?" Ume lowered her head in a daze, she was stunned for a moment, the body that had regrown and the surging power in her body made her at a loss.

Tanjuro glanced at Gyutaro's head that fell on the street and gradually turned into ashes.

He stomped on the roof, and his figure quickly rushed towards Uzui Tengen.

He understood what happened in a flash.

——Gyutaro, in just a moment, transferred all his power to Daki.

This is almost a suicidal act——let the two demons of the siblings become only one demon sister who has all the blood.

Such a consequence will directly lead to Gyutaro's own death.

But, it can indeed give the sister a glimmer of life.

At the moment when Tanjuro, who is a bystander, noticed this fact, Ume, who really felt the power, also reacted.

"Brother..." Her pupils trembled violently, and she looked straight at Gyutaro's headless body that fell forward.

In the dazed vision, she saw Gyutaro's body begin to turn into ashes.

Ume lost control of her emotions.

Her neck was a little swollen, her eyes were sour, she gritted her teeth, slightly lowered her head, and an unparalleled rage surged in her heart.

"Heh——Ahhhh!!!"

She screamed hysterically, and the cloth strips behind her rose into the sky and danced:

"Die! Die!!"

Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!!

Countless cloth strips surged from the street, directly breaking through the roof and rushing to the sky!

Tiles and dust were raised, and Uzui Tengen, who was closest, was directly hit by the surrounding buildings suddenly turned into powder,.

The sharp cloth strip brushed past his left hand waving the Nichirin Sword!

Puff!

Blood splattered!

Tomioka, who was standing next to Uzui, saw this, he quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Uzui.

Click!

The blue Nichirin Sword in his hand was instantly unsheathed.

[

[Water Breathing·Eleventh Form]

[Dead Calm---Nagi]

Swish!

The dense blue sword light hidden under the calm lake surface, all the cloth strips that passed through Tomioka Giyu's arm waving range were immediately cut off!

But, the range he can take care of is only within one foot that his sword body can touch.

Behind.

Uzui Tengen was holding his left arm, he was surprised to look at Tomioka Giyu's back.

...

Kyogoku House.

The madam was standing in the broken room, she looked through the pierced wall and looked at the cloth strips rising into the sky in the distance.

"...Wha, what is that?!" She backed away in astonishment, the revolver in her hand was trembling slightly.

Suddenly.

Rustle.....

In the corner of the room, a strand of cloth strip slightly scratched the wall.

!

The next moment.

Bang!

With a moment of fire, a faint wisp of smoke drifted from the muzzle, the landlady's trembling hands held the revolver, and her gaze looked at the corner.

There, the blank part of the cloth strip with the small jade image engraved on it has a burnt bullet hole.

Creak...

The cloth strip fell weakly, as if its owner had no intention of taking care of this side.

...

Not far away.

Gyutaro's head rolled on the ground, slowly turning into ashes from the neck.

He lay down his head, glanced at the countless ribbons rushing into the sky, and looked towards the roof not far away along the direction of the ribbons.

"...What a silly little sister." Gyutaro's tone was somewhat helpless, and his voice was still as hoarse and eerie:

"This power...is not for you to counterattack."

"...Run."

But the remaining power in his body was no longer enough to support him to shout out loud.

He could only stare at Tanjuro on the roof, holding a dazzling sun flame, and rushing straight towards the roof where the ribbons were rushing.

...

Step step step!!

Tanjuro held the red-hot Kusabimaru, he was running fast, his mouth overflowing with white mist, and the scenery beside him was retreating at a high speed.

His gaze was fixed on the ribbons that were constantly stabbing towards him.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The moves in his hand were changing, the Reed Sword Technique mixed with Sun Breathing, constantly dodging or cutting off the obi sash.

In his field of vision, the name above Daki's head became blurred.

Finally, it became

——[Upper Rank Three] Ume.

There was only one red dot left of the two.

"Hiss——!"

[Sun Breathing]

Staring at Tomioka and Uzui covered by obi sash.

He didn't know how long Tomioka could withstand such a desperate attack.

It took too much time to cut through the ribbons layer by layer and move forward.

In a hurry.

Tanjuro clenched the hilt of the sword tightly and took a deep breath.

Puff puff!

The sun flame rose vigorously from the root of the sword body, and the dazzling light accompanied the rapid swing of the Bright Red Sword to form an extremely stretched sword light.

He sprinted hard under his feet!

Whoosh——Bang!

Sun Breathing from First Form to Twelve Form, he swung it completely and with all his strength.

Just a moment.

Step!

He stepped out of the countless ribbons that were instantly shattered, held up the red-hot Kusabimaru, gritted his teeth, and appeared in front of Mei with a stunned expression.

"Bro..." Ume was scared and leaned back her head, she shouted subconsciously, but suddenly choked, her nose was slightly sour.

Tears overflowed from her eyes, touched the hot Bright Red Sword, and evaporated instantly.

After seeing this.

Tanjuro slightly closed his eyes.

"Rest in peace." He said.

The Bright Red Sword in his hand was forcefully split vertically!

Whoosh!

The sword easily swept across her neck.

Puff!

The white-haired head flew high in the night sky, and the purple ribbons turned into ashes piece by piece.

Ume's green eyes gradually turned blue, she stared at the moon in the sky, her eyes slowly clear.

Then.

creak...

It rolled next to Gyutaro's head, which was turning into ashes.

The two demon siblings looked at each other.

"Bro..." Ume's eyes reddened, she was about to cry and say.

"Why didn't you run." Gyutaro's tone seemed very helpless, he drooped his eyelids: "If you run away, you can survive."

Before Ume could answer, he wanted to ask:

"With such power, run..."

But at this moment, Ume puffed up her cheeks and interrupted Gyutaro's words loudly:

"If my brother is not there——!" She closed her eyes, her voice trembling with a crying tone:

"Living like this, there is no meaning at all!"

Ume's clear voice echoed in the slightly empty flower street.

Gyutaro's expression was shocked.

...

On the roof.

Tanjuro was stunned, he blinked his eyes.

Just now, he felt a new battle memory.

Not with Daki siblings.

But——

——Battle Memory [Tsugikuni Yoriichi].

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